Increasing our understanding of how and why we/things behave the way we/they do!!

The term “RESEARCH” includes any gathering of data, information and facts for the advancement of knowledge.

Research (Scientific Definition) is performing a methodical study in order to prove a hypothesis or answer a specific question. Scientific research must be organized and undergo planning, including performing literature reviews of past research and evaluating what questions need to be answered.

A theory:

Organizes information

Helps explain past events

Predicts new events

RESEARCH is based on the work of others:

Past research guides new research

Research is NOT copying the work of others

RESEARCH…

can be replicated;

is generalizable (should apply to situations outside of the study setting);

is NOT done in intellectual isolation;

is based on some logical rationale;

is tied to theory;

is “doable”: Good research questions can be translated into projects that can be done!

is ongoing (generates new questions; is incremental);

should be apolitical (should have the betterment of society as its ultimate goal).

SCIENTIFIC METHOD:

A shared philosophical approach to understanding the world

A standard sequence of steps in formulating and answering questions

The Research Process – a Process Perspective

(from Ghauri and GrØnhaug)

–o–o–o–o–

FROM IDEA TO RESEARCH QUESTION TO HYPOTHESIS

You’ve identified an area of interest

Now formulate a research question that

– Is a clearly stated expression of interest and intent, and

– That implies a relationship between variables

HYPOTHESES—A QUICK REVIEW

Stated in declarative form

Posits a relationship between variables

Reflects theory or literature

Brief and to the point

Testable

Reviewing the Literature

Define your idea in as general terms as possible by using general sources.

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Search through the secondary sources.

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Search through the primary sources.

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Organize your notes.

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Write your proposal (write the Lit. Review).

The Role of Literature

Frame the problem

Identify concepts and methods

Position the study

Problem structure and research design

Exploratory – unstructured

Descriptive – structured

Causal – structural

Others

Cross-sectional design

Time series

The one shot case study

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NONEXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH:

Descriptive Research

Correlational Research Methods

DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH

Asks about the characteristics of a phenomenon

Does not include treatment or control groups

DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH

Survey Research

Correlational studies—relationships between variables are characterized

SURVEY RESEARCH

Examines the frequency and relationships between psychological and sociological variables

Assesses constructs such as attitudes, beliefs, prejudices, etc.

INTERVIEWS

Basic tool of survey

Face sheet—neutral background information

– Helps establish rapport with interviewee

– Establishes data characteristics

Two types of questions

– Structured require an explicit answer

– Open-ended allow interviewee to elaborate

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METHODOLOGY:

From Salkind, Prentice-Hall, 2006.

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I present here the “Research Onion”, from Saunders:

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Data Sources:

Utilize secondary data before collecting primary data to help establish:

Purpose

Scope

Reliability

Advantages of Secondary Data:

Saves time and money

Can provide high quality and reliable data

Facilitates cross-cultural research

Suggests suitable methods to handle data

Disadvantages of Secondary Data:

1. Collected for a different research problem and objective

2. Need to consider the ‘Fit’ with your research problem and the validity of the comparison